She defends herself against allegations of fraud with bizarre statements
Vaccination whirl around Bencic opponent Camila Giorgi
Camila Giorgi (31), Belinda Bencic’s next Australian Open opponent in the third round, is said to have participated in Melbourne in 2022 with a fake vaccination card. Her reaction to this did not improve her uncomfortable situation.
Published: 6:25 p.m
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Updated: 6:26 p.m
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Camila Giorgi was under press conference cross-examination over allegations of fraud.
Marco Pescioreporter sports
It’s a curious press conference that took place at the beginning of the week after Camila Giorgi’s first-round win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (6-0, 6-1 in 55 minutes). A back and forth without speed, like a rally in which Giorgi doesn’t get on the train. Giorgi does not answer directly, but evasively or not at all.
There is only one topic. The 31-year-old Italian is said to have participated in the Australian Open last year with a fake corona vaccination certificate, according to the most recent allegation. Her family doctor Daniela Grillone was arrested a year ago because she is said to have issued a number of false certificates for her patients. Also for Giorgi? Well, she then told investigators that she could “confirm with absolute certainty that the entire Giorgi family was not given a vaccine.” So the top Italian player would have cheated in Melbourne in 2022, where vaccination was mandatory.
Vaccinated or not vaccinated: A year later, the restrictions on the “Happy Slam” are lifted, so this time there are no problems. But her reaction to the allegations raises questions.
All results from the Australian Open
The first tennis highlight is coming up in Melbourne: Click here for an overview of the results of the Australian Open.
The first tennis highlight is coming up in Melbourne: Click here for an overview of the results of the Australian Open.
“A vaccination is a vaccination”
Giorgi explains it’s not her who’s in trouble, it’s her doctor. She had no false proof, she got her vaccinations from different doctors and did everything the Australian government asked for. When a reporter then asked whether it was a vaccination against Covid-19, she replies: “A vaccination is a vaccination.” To which the journalist replies: “But it was a Covid 19 vaccination?” And Giorgi says: «I have already answered the question. It’s a vaccine.”
The fuss about her person has not calmed down. So far, the world number 70 in Melbourne has been sporting well. The Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova was also no problem (6: 4, 6: 3). Now in round three on Saturday night she meets Belinda Bencic (25 / WTA 10), who expects “Russian roulette” against Giorgi: “There are days when she plays like number one in the world. And then there are days when she can lose to anyone.”
For Bencic it is now a matter of equalizing her best Melbourne result so far: in 2016 she was in the round of 16, but failed there to Maria Sharapova. For her part, Giorgi has never gotten that far at the Australian Open. While she’s on form, she’s struggling on other fronts as well.